Rebuilding the relationship between the Police and the Communities that they serve one voice at a time.

Cincinnati, Oh. Police Department Officers Help Kids with “The Right to Read”

October 30, 2015 Cincinnati, Oh. The Chase Elementary School has been teaming up with the Cincinnati Police Department since 2013 in a program started by Police Officer Donald Jordan known as “Right to Read”. Due to major budgetary constraints and other concerns the program was in jeopardy of being cut. While such items as extra Patrols for crime hot spots and witness protection programs and anti-gang protection programs are a major concern that were cited by officials to WKRC (5) Five officers will still be kept on to work this very special program with the local third graders.

Five officers who have been selected to spend mornings with the children helping them to prepare for tests for the forth grade and in reading comprehension as well as other skills. But it is much more than that by in large.

As explained by a named Teacher Kinah Willis. Willis said everyone wants to be in the tutoring program. “They’re at an age where their minds can be shaped and molded. If you can mold them and give them a different perception of officers, they will teach their kids what they learned,” she continued “Partnering with cops is new to most of the children. They used to be afraid of them but not anymore.”

Donald Jordan the Officer who started the program summarizes it as such very well, he said, “If a kid is in the third grade and not able to go to the fourth grade, it increases the chance he won’t graduate. The kids who drop out of school are the ones we deal with on the street.” Jordan said the program was also about breaking down barriers and building relationships for years to come.

Nine-year-old Norman Johnson said Jordan helped him dream about the future. the boy added “He’s kind, always helps me, never says no. Tries to do the best for me,”

Everyone at Chase Elementary agreed; RIGHT TO READ is so much more than a tutoring program. It’s about relationships, changing perceptions about police and right in Ms. Willis’ third grade class, it’s about improving police community relations. In 2014, Chase Elementary was the only Cincinnati Public School recognized by the Ohio Department of Education as a school showing High Progress.

Cincinnati Oh Police Department Officers Help Kids with the Right to ReadCincinnati Oh Police Department Officers Help Kids with the Right to Read